Our verdict: Sandboxie-Plus lets you try unknown programs or browse in a box whose changes vanish when you empty it, without the weight of a virtual machine. The free version covers sandboxes, snapshots and per-box firewall rules for personal use. Privacy and security enhanced boxes, encryption and business use require a paid certificate.
About Sandboxie-Plus
Sandboxie redirects the file and registry writes of a sandboxed program into a separate folder, so the real system stays untouched. You can run a browser, an installer or a suspicious file inside a box, recover the files you want to keep, and delete everything else at once. You can create as many sandboxes as you like and run programs in them side by side.
Sandboxie-Plus is the community continuation of Sandboxie, maintained by David Xanatos since Sophos released the source code in 2020. The core components are GPL v3, while the Plus interface has its own license: free for non-commercial use, with a support reminder and some features reserved for supporter certificates. A Classic edition with the old interface is also offered.
What it does well
- Unlimited sandboxes. Create as many boxes as you need and run programs in them at the same time.
- Box snapshots. Save the state of a box and roll back to it later; free in the Plus edition.
- Per-box firewall. Block or allow internet access per sandbox through the Windows Filtering Platform.
- File recovery. Copy files you want to keep out of a box before deleting its contents.
- Forced programs. Make chosen programs or folders always start inside a sandbox.
Who it is for
Good fit
Advanced home users who want to test unknown software or keep a browser isolated from Windows.
Look elsewhere
Companies and schools without a business certificate, and people who need a full virtual machine.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Much lighter than a virtual machine
- Unlimited sandboxes and snapshots in the free version
- Active development with frequent releases
Cons
- Privacy and security enhanced boxes, encryption and DNS filtering need a paid certificate
- Commercial and educational use requires a business certificate
- Free version shows support reminders
How to install Sandboxie-Plus
Run the x64 installer and accept the driver installation; Sandboxie needs a kernel driver. Start with the default box, right-click a program and choose Run Sandboxed. Remember that downloads stay inside the box until you recover them.
Questions about Sandboxie-Plus
Is Sandboxie-Plus free?
Yes, for personal non-commercial use. A supporter certificate unlocks extra features, and a business certificate is required in companies and schools.
Is Sandboxie-Plus open source?
Partly. The source code is public; the core components are GPL v3, while the Plus interface uses a custom license that restricts commercial use.
What is the difference between Plus and Classic?
Both share the same core. Plus has the modern interface with all new features; Classic keeps the old interface, which is no longer developed.
